Preparation

Phsyical Preparation:

For those of you on supervised prescribing such as Methadone or Subutex or other prescribed medications that entail having to take it in front of your pharmacist or drug worker, make sure you speak to your prescribing agent well in advance of Ramadan. Perhaps they will be able to offer you unsupervised scripting during the month of Ramadan so that you can fast. However, it is important that you request this well in advance so that you can begin the first day of Ramadan alongside the rest of your community.

As addicts in recovery, we need to look at the substances we are using prior to Ramadan.

Mental Preparation:

Ask Allah sincerely for help

This is the time to start thinking about our intentions. Why are we fasting? What do we want to achieve? How will fasting help us?

“Actions are but by intentions, and everyone shall have but that which he intended…” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1; Muslim, 1907)

Allah tells us the purpose of fasting in Ramadan in the Qur’an. He is very clear about what it is that we need to set out to achieve inshaAllah. In fact, the very thing that Allah wants us to acheive is the very thing that we need to overcome our addiction;

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed tfor you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa (God-consciousness) Quran 2:183

Through increased consciousness of Allah we will be able to tread more carefully upon the Straight Path to Recovery. Taqwa is the key to shielding ourselves from sins and from removing the veils between us and Allah.

Spiritual Preparation:

For many non-Muslim, they take January the 1st as the marker for change. They seek to make New Years resolutions and think about what bad habits they want to give up. For Muslims, Ramadan is a time to reflect. We need to think about our habits. What needs to change? What can I improve on?

Muslims who self-reflect are the most successful. When we look deeply at ourselves with a critical mind we begin to understand what needs to change. Before Ramadan approaches we need to sit down and look hard in the mirror and make a list of goals. This is called Muhassaba, (bringing oneself to account).

As Umar (Radiallahu anhu) said : “Bring yourself to account before you are brought to account. And weigh your deeds before your deeds are weighed.”

If you would like to read more about making good intentions for Ramadan please click here

Find us on Facebook at The Straight Path To Recovery

Recovery Journey Through The Qur’an

The Book of Allah - The Qur'an is the manual we need to guide us through our recovery from addiction, and is a light that shines the way through life in general. As we read through the Words of Allah we will gain many lessons, advice and signs to reflect upon that will help steer us towards the Path of Allah and help us to keep treading upon The Straight Path to recovery